nycdaug Chapter 301: The Admission Notice!
Chapter 301: The Admission Notice!
The reason it's difficult is simple: you've been away from school for too long—almost ten years without touching a book. Then you're given only two months to review. Even if you didn't eat, drink, or sleep for those two months, studying 24/7, it's impossible to cover everything comprehensively.
After the exams, the next step is to fill out college applications. Unlike later generations who fill out applications after knowing their scores, now it's basically a blind application process because everyone is uncertain.
There's no certainty about this, it's twofold. First, we don't know our own scores. Second, we don't know how everyone else did on the exam. We have no idea what level the university's admission score is at. After all, with so many people participating and limited university resources, they will definitely select the best candidates.
Zheng Tong, Jiang Biyun, and others mostly applied to universities in Beijing. The reason was simple: it was closer to home, and if they were accepted, they could go home. The waiting period was agonizing. Zheng Tong, for example, sometimes lost focus while teaching, and couldn't concentrate on his studies at night, his mind preoccupied with whether he could get into university. Finally, just before the Spring Festival in 78, news arrived. The county notified him to go to the county hospital for a physical examination. Jiang Biyun, Li Hong, Yang Wanqing, and several others were also there for the examination.
Those who were notified to undergo a physical examination were overjoyed, because passing the physical examination meant they were basically accepted by the university they applied to. Those who were not accepted were extremely disappointed. In fact, they had expected this, but they always clung to their last glimmer of hope until the final result was announced.
After the physical examinations went smoothly, everyone knew their scores. Zheng Tong scored 289 points and was admitted to the Literature Department of Beijing University. This score wasn't high, out of a total of 400. The main reason was that the overall scores of the candidates were low, which was a bit like choosing the best among the worst. Jiang Biyun and Yang Wanqing were both admitted to Beijing Normal University. Wangjiagou Brigade, including Zheng Tong, had a total of eight people admitted to university. This caused a sensation in the entire county. You have to understand that in the whole of northern Shaanxi, the surrounding counties only had about a hundred people admitted to university, some only a few dozen, or even single digits.
1977年高考录取率为4.7%-5%?，根据教育部及权威媒体报道，当年570万考生中仅27万至27.3万人被录取。??
Your entire class alone has eight students who got into university, including one at Peking University. How can that not be astonishing?
Outsiders say that there are immortals buried under the yellow map of Wangjiagou, a place of auspicious feng shui. The educated youth of Wangjiagou scoff at this. Others may not know, but they know that it is actually thanks to Zhong Yuemin. He persuaded everyone to pick up their books and prepare for the resumption of the college entrance examination. A small number of them started preparing early, working during the day and studying at night. Now they are able to get into university, all thanks to their hard work.
On the day the admission notices arrived, the educated youth at Wangjiagou slum held a lively celebration, which was also a farewell party. In the male educated youth's cave dwelling, several tables were pushed together, and the tables were laden with food—chicken, duck, fish, meat, fruits, and snacks—a rare moment of luxury. Luo Jianguo held a child in one hand and raised a wine glass in the other.
"Come on, everyone, raise your bowls. I'll say a few words. First, of course, to celebrate Zheng Tong, Jiang Biyun, and my wife... getting into university. We're happy and should celebrate."
Secondly, as for those who didn't pass, including me, don't be discouraged. Study hard this year and try again later.
Thirdly, Zheng Tong and the others are about to go to university to register and will be leaving soon. They may have fewer opportunities to meet in the future. They all went to the countryside together and got along well over the years. It is fate that they have such a good relationship. Let's cherish this friendship.
I won't say anything more, it's all in the wine, bottoms up!
Everyone raised their glasses, clinked them together, and drank them all in one gulp!